Hello Adventurer: The Tech-Voc Road to Victory

A lot of factors come into play when we choose our paths in life. Do we have the time, money, and energy for it? Can it put food on the table? Or sometimes, is the path even accessible to begin with?

Well, sa totoo lang, marami namang paraan para magtagumpay. Pwedeng mag-aral, magplano, mag-ipon at kung ano-ano pa, but it doesn’t end there. The way forward is all about discovering and balancing what you’re good at, what makes you happy, and what the world needs.

Here are four students, just like you, working their way through life, but with Tech-Voc. They’re from Mary Our Help Technical Institute for Women, in Pampanga, where they’re developing the skills they need to make the future they want possible.

Connieliz Galang

Strand: Industrial Arts

Course: Electronic Product Assembly and Servicing NC II

Gustong makapagtapos ni Connieliz ng pag-aaral sa sarili niyang sipag at tiyaga. Like most Filipinos, she wants to be able to provide for her family later on.

She says, “noong bata pa ako, pinangarap kong maging mahusay na doktor pero nagbago rin dahil sa iba-ibang dahilan.”

She wants to continue her studies in college, saying, “electronics engineering ang course ko sa college at alam kong sapat na basehan na ang pagiging Industrial Arts student para masabing ito na ang stepping stone ko patungo roon.”

With a National Certificate (NC) in Product Assembly and Servicing, she could work her way through her studies so that college isn’t too straining on her family’s finances.

Ruschelle Datchuan

Strand: Home Economics

Course: Travel Servicing NC II

Para kay Ruschelle, sa Travel Servicing niya natutuklasan ang mundo. To her, success comes from knowing and discovering things, which her course had made possible for her.

“Gusto kong makapagtapos ng college sa kursong Accountancy […] at makapagtrabaho sa bangko,” sabi niya. It’s the north star she’s working towards, and someday she’d make her way through as a working student.

She believes that now, she has an advantage because of the skills she picked up on her on-the-job training, so when the time comes, she can apply for positions in different travel agencies, the income from which will keep her going as she journeys on.

April Joy Tonido

Strand: Information and Communications Technology

Course: Computer Systems Servicing NC II

April Joy just wants to give her family the good life they deserve. As a kid, she was inspired by everyone who has taught her, so she wanted to be a teacher.

Although, she found a different path with Computer Systems Servicing. She says, “[pinili ko ito] dahil sa pinsan kong IT major. Gusto kong mas matutunan ang paggamit ng technology dahil ito ang in-demand ngayon.”

She believes that her course can turn her into a master tinker, with both hardware and software. “Practical ang pagtuturo sa amin,” sabi niya, “kaya hinahayaan ka na lang gawin ang trabaho [dahil nagawa mo na ito dati].”

Some day, she might even be the one who designs the phone you’d be reading this article off of.

Karlynne Olivia Supan

Strand: Home Economics

Course: Local Tour Guiding NC II

Karlynne wants to open her own restaurant. It’s an ambitious dream, so she’s not pressuring herself to take a leap of faith.

Right now, she’s considering pursuing tourism instead because she found that she enjoys what she does in Local Tour Guiding. She says, “baka ituloy ko na lang ang trabaho ko dito sa OJT kung i-aabsorb ako.”

Because of the hands-on skills training with Tech-Voc, she discovered an unexpected path. Even if her path now isn’t anywhere close to her plans of taking up nursing or accountancy, at some point, she’ll still be able to open that restaurant, all the while doing something she’s enjoying.

All the exciting uncertainties

Plans are good. Plans are great. But not all plans push through, and that’s okay. Some things would go your way, while others don’t. But while you’re at it, don’t close off your options just yet.

As proven by these four girls, anything can happen, and we all just improvise our way through life. Stay open and curious, because you never know where the road you’re on will go. And wherever that is, we’re with you every step of the way.